Barb's last days

[Kilt Boy]

Lord knows that there have been rumours of this club closing for years now. Last month I recognized the standard Claridge Homes sales center going up in the parking lot next to the LRT station and figured that the club's days were numbered.

I have no hard data on a date. It is definitely coming, though.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/loca...lopment-plan-for-land-beside-lyon-lrt-station

A lot of you guys should go out to remember the good times and celebrate this great institution while it still exists. I'm telling my regular girls to line up dates for shifts over the next 6 months because there should be a lot of traffic. Don't make me a liar.

 

[Kilt Boy]

That may mean more competition at other clubs when the girls from Barb's have to move on.

 

[aznzla0z]

When this place will shut down? Definitely gonna go before it closes

 

[r__d_ott]

When this place will shut down? Definitely gonna go before it closes

Would really be interested in knowing this as well. If anyone who reads this forum hears anything about this, I hope they would share the info here.

Somewhat difficult to tell, but the renderings would seem to indicate that the existing structure will be demolished. Presumably, the 'cabaret' licence would remain but a location would have to be found that conformed to the various bylaw requirements. Not being highly informed on these matters, I wonder if these licenses have to be continually 'kept up', so to speak, either in the sense of paying an annual fee even if a venue is not operating or if such a permit expires if there is no active business. E.g. some of us may recall a second club on York St. in the past - has that license ceased to exist or could it be 'reactivated'? My understanding is that municipalities can place (and many have placed) a limit on such permits, but cannot cancel existing licences.

In any case, it may be that in the current business climate for SCs, one less venue may not be an entirely bad thing. In my view, though, it's a pity that it's looking like it is going to be Barb's.

 

[JohnnyFever]

I was there all the time before the champagne room changes, but afterwards they were much too open for my tastes. I'm kind of surprised they're shutting down though, as they attracted the convention crowds, all the guys in the big hotels on business with rolls of 20s in their wallets looking to drink and spend. The Barefax isn't too far from there but it's very much a local place, not many groups and not much money.

 

[John Gilbunni]

Not a cr guy but some of the best ones ive had were there. the skinny dj guy there was one of the friendliest dudes I ever met. There was some...trouble... and I stopped going. I gotta get back before they close.

 

[yak2432]

I was a regular for years till I realised for the same price as a couple of dances in the CR, you could go to a MP have a decent massage, feel up some boobies and more importantly, get a release rather then spending the rest of the day with blue balls. With the number of hotels in the vicinity, it was popular with the out of towners. One last visit for old time’s sake is in order though. Back in the day there was pretty much a strip bar in every town (Manotick, Richmond, Kanata, Arnprior, Pembroke, Carlsbad Springs, Greely, etc.) Ottawa had at least 10 and now there are 4 soon to be 3. I think the bylaw states that no new ones can open and once the old ones close, that’s it. We’ll just have to satisfy ourselves with the internet and rub and tugs.

 

[Anynym]

When this place will shut down? Definitely gonna go before it closes

They have announced that March 22 will be their final day in business, and suggested "going away parties" on March 21 and 22

 

[Kilt Boy]

I'm organizing a little soiree on the 20th: afternoon and early evening.

 

[medalllione]

Sad news...Hopefully most of the dancers will migrate to Barefax.

 

[blondefan]

correct me if I'm wrong but the only way a new strip club could open up in the Ottawa region is if it was a private members only club (kind of like all of those new massage parlors)?

 

[canuckhooker]

correct me if I'm wrong but the only way a new strip club could open up in the Ottawa region is if it was a private members only club (kind of like all of those new massage parlors)?

Technically you are wrong, although practically you are probably correct. The restrictions on where you can open an adult entertainment establishment are pretty restrictive, so if one was going to open, you can be sure it will not be downtown. It would be too close to schools, churches other businesses etc. The law allows you to get a license, they just restrict it too much as to where you can operate.

 

[blondefan]

Technically you are wrong, although practically you are probably correct. The restrictions on where you can open an adult entertainment establishment are pretty restrictive, so if one was going to open, you can be sure it will not be downtown. It would be too close to schools, churches other businesses etc. The law allows you to get a license, they just restrict it too much as to where you can operate.

Thanks. I wonder if people would go to a members only strip club....maybe one that allows a happy ending in the back and is time based as opposed to per dance cost....

 

[canuckhooker]

Thanks. I wonder if people would go to a members only strip club....maybe one that allows a happy ending in the back and is time based as opposed to per dance cost....

Funny you say that because I never thought about this until now, but I don't think that the spas have to follow the same bylaw as the SC's. I see the spas opening up all the time and in a variety of places that Strip Clubs couldn't operate. They must be in some kind of gray area.

 

[blondefan]

Funny you say that because I never thought about this until now, but I don't think that the spas have to follow the same bylaw as the SC's. I see the spas opening up all the time and in a variety of places that Strip Clubs couldn't operate. They must be in some kind of gray area.

I believe it is because they are private members clubs

 

[JohnnyFever]

Funny you say that because I never thought about this until now, but I don't think that the spas have to follow the same bylaw as the SC's. I see the spas opening up all the time and in a variety of places that Strip Clubs couldn't operate. They must be in some kind of gray area.

Strip clubs have been around for decades and are out in the open. Spas like CMJ and Brass are a relatively new arrangement (as separate from sketchy Asian "spas"). Polite society is not aware of them. As long as they don't draw attention to themselves, they're left alone. Should stories start to run in the Citizen about clubs where women are being paid to rub and tug men within walking distance of City Hall, our progressive, feminist city would be horrified. That's when we could see LE enforcement, and the "private member" arrangement would not be a protection. That's particularly true where the clubs have liquor licenses, since that's a green light for underage drinking raids that could turn up nefarious activities in the process.

 

[Kilt Boy]

RE: PRIVATE CLUB

From what I've experienced, you have to be buzzed in to a private club or somehow verified. There is usually also a camera in the area. I imagine that if there was a rush at the door of LE personnel, there would/might be some kind of flashing light alarm instigated by the hostess that would affect all rooms in the club. Just a thought. I can't confirm. That's how I'd run it if it was my club. The one club contract that I saw had all kinds of provisions about if you were in LE.

With that said, I'd surely (and quickly) pay a $20 lifetime membership fee in order to have another great SC experience somewhere downtown as a private club.

 

[Kilt Boy]

All of the poles are spoken for after they close.
Don't even try.

FYI

 

[Rocky Racoon]

Thanks. I wonder if people would go to a members only strip club....maybe one that allows a happy ending in the back and is time based as opposed to per dance cost....

Yes, this ^ . I'm surprised nobody has ever tried this yet in Ottawa. The spas like Brass are a step in this direction, but they have no large common room with tables/chairs, a pole dancing stage, a pool table, a large bar with many brand of beers, etc.

One of the main reasons I like strip clubs is the fact that you can have a genuine interaction with the girls in person before you commit to go in the private area with them. To me, this would be a major improvement to the "choose from faceless pictures on the internet" model of massage clubs. Don't get me wrong, the current private clubs are great and they have a place in the industry. But a Private Strip club with erotic massage services in rooms with couches and beds, instead of traditional champagne rooms, would be a perfect compromise, I think. The time-based cost would avoid all the problems that come with counting the songs. Members could also make reservations for their favourite girl if they prefer.

I don't expect the majority of members would mind the member fee, the mandatory ID verification, the cameras in the common room, the need to be buzzed in, and the signed contract (basically just an engagement to not be a jerk). These don't keep any of the private massage clubs from doing well, and some of those are already present in many strip clubs anyway.

 

[Kilt Boy]

I've just started looking into exactly that. It would be perfect if it could be on the main floor of the same building complex once it's built, don't you think? That gives me a couple of years to figure it all out.

Looking for investors.